As the demon’s fiery light blazed ahead, Sun Wukong’s multicolored cloud pursued close behind. Just as they raced along, a towering mountain suddenly loomed before them. The demon retracted his crimson glow, resumed his true form, and charged headlong into a cave. Emerging with a nine-pronged iron rake , he prepared for battle.
Sun Wukong roared, “You vile fiend! What evil spirit are you? How do you know Old Sun’s name? Tell me your abilities honestly, and I’ll spare your life!”
The demon replied, “You haven’t seen my true power! Stand firm and listen: From birth, I was dull and clumsy, lazy and idle without end. I never cultivated my nature or sought the truth, living in confusion as days and months passed. But one day I met a true immortal , who sat me down and spoke of warmth and cold. He urged me to turn back and not fall into the mortal world, lest I commit endless sins. When my final day came, I would regret the eight calamities and three paths of suffering . Moved by his words, I resolved to cultivate and sought the secret formula. By fate, I knelt and took him as my master, who taught me the gates of heaven and the abyss of earth. I received the great elixir of nine cycles , working day and night without rest. It flowed from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet, circulating kidney water into the golden pool , warming my elixir field with gentle heat. The infant and maiden paired yin and yang, lead and mercury merged, dividing sun and moon. The dragon of separation and tiger of union were harmonized; the sacred turtle drank the blood of the golden crow . The three flowers gathered atop my head , returning to their root; the five energies faced the origin , penetrating all. When my work was complete and my practice full, I ascended to heaven, greeted by rows of immortals. A radiant cloud formed beneath my feet; light and strong, I approached the golden palace. The Jade Emperor held a feast for all immortals, each ranked in order. He appointed me Marshal of the Heavenly River , commanding the water troops with full authority.”
“But then the Queen Mother held the Peach Festival, inviting all guests to the Jasper Pool . Drunk and dazed, I staggered and caused trouble. Boldly, I crashed into the Moon Palace , where the lovely goddess greeted me. Her beauty captivated my soul, and my old mortal desires could not be quelled. Forgetting all rank and respect, I seized the Moon Maiden and demanded she stay with me. She refused again and again, hiding east and west, displeased. My lustful courage swelled like thunder, nearly shaking the gates of heaven. The Inspector Spirit reported to the Jade Emperor—that day my fate turned sour. The Moon Palace was surrounded, sealed tight; I could neither advance nor retreat. Seized by the gods, I was still unafraid, wine clouding my mind. They dragged me before the Jade Emperor, where the law demanded my execution. Thanks to Grand Supreme Elderly Lord Li , who stepped forward and spoke on my behalf, my sentence was commuted to two thousand heavy blows . My flesh split, my skin tore, and my bones nearly broke. Spared death, I was banished from heaven and exiled to the foot of Blessing Mountain to make my home. Because of my sins, I was wrongly reborn, taking the mortal name Zhu Ganglie .”
Sun Wukong listened and said, “So you’re the Heavenly Marshal reincarnated. No wonder you know Old Sun’s name.”
The demon snorted, “You deceitful Monkey Magistrate ! Back when you caused that great havoc, you dragged countless of us into trouble. Now you come here to bully me again! Enough insolence—taste my rake!”
Sun Wukong would not yield. He raised his golden-banded staff and struck straight at the demon’s head. The two fought through the night on the mountainside, a truly fierce battle: The Pilgrim’s golden eyes flashed like lightning; the demon’s round eyes blazed like silver flowers. One spewed colored mist from his mouth; the other exhaled crimson clouds. The crimson clouds lit the dark; the colored mist brightened the night. The golden-banded staff and the nine-pronged rake—two heroes truly worth praising: one was the Great Sage descended to the mortal world; the other was the Marshal fallen from heaven. One had lost his dignity and become a monster; the other had escaped hardship to serve a monk. The rake struck like a dragon extending its claws; the staff parried like a phoenix threading through flowers. One said, “Ruining someone’s marriage is like killing their father!” The other said, “Forcibly taking a woman deserves capture!” Idle words and noisy shouts flew back and forth as staff met rake. They fought until the sky neared dawn, and the demon’s arms grew numb and sore.
They battled from the second watch of the night until the eastern sky grew light. The demon, unable to defeat Sun Wukong, fled in defeat. Transforming into a fierce wind, he retreated into his cave, slammed the door shut, and refused to come out again.
Sun Wukong noticed a stone tablet outside the cave inscribed with the words “ Cloud Road Cave .” Seeing that the demon would not emerge and that dawn had broken, he thought, “I fear my master is growing anxious. I’ll return to see him first, then come back to capture this fiend.” So he lightly stepped onto his auspicious cloud and soon arrived back at Gao Family Village .
Meanwhile, Tang Sanzang had spent the night discussing ancient and modern tales with the elders, unable to sleep. Just as he worried about Sun Wukong’s absence, he saw the Monkey King standing in the courtyard. Sun Wukong put away his golden-banded staff, straightened his clothes, entered the hall, and called out, “Master, I’ve returned.”
The elders all knelt in fear and gratitude, saying, “Your efforts are much appreciated! Your efforts are much appreciated!”
Tang Sanzang asked, “Wukong, you were gone all night. Did you capture the demon?”
Sun Wukong replied, “Master, that demon is no ordinary ghost or mountain beast. He was originally the Heavenly Marshal reincarnated, but because he was reborn wrongly, his face resembles a wild boar. Yet he still has spiritual intelligence. He said he took his surname from his appearance, calling himself Zhu Ganglie. I struck him with my staff in the back courtyard, and he fled as a fierce wind. I chased him and landed a blow, but he transformed into a fiery light and escaped to his cave. There he brought out a nine-pronged iron rake and fought me all night. At dawn, he fled, unable to win, and sealed his cave door. I wanted to break it down and settle the score, but I feared you would worry, so I came to report first.”
After hearing this, Senior Gao knelt and said, “Reverend, this is truly hopeless! You may have driven him off, but once you leave, he will surely return. What then? Please, I beg you to capture him and root out the trouble completely, leaving no future threat. I will not be stingy—I will reward you generously. All my property and fields, with relatives and friends as witnesses, I will divide equally with you. Only ask that you cut the weeds and pull the roots, sparing my Gao family’s reputation.”
Sun Wukong laughed and said, “Old man, you don’t understand. The demon told me that although he eats a lot and has consumed some of your food, he has also done much work for your family. The wealth your family has accumulated over these years came from his labor. He didn’t eat for free, so why must you drive him away? According to him, he is a celestial being who descended to help manage your household and never harmed your daughter. From this perspective, he is a worthy son-in-law, and he hasn’t brought much shame to your name. Keeping him would be fine.”
Senior Gao said, “Reverend, though he hasn’t ruined our reputation, the gossip is unbearable! People constantly say, ‘The Gao family took in a demon son-in-law.’ Who can endure that?”
Tang Sanzang said, “Wukong, since you’ve already fought him, see it through to the end. Resolve this matter completely.”
Sun Wukong said, “I was just teasing him. This time I’ll capture him and bring him before you. Don’t worry.” Then he said to Senior Gao, “Old Gao, take good care of my master. I’m off.”
No sooner had he spoken the word “off” than Sun Wukong vanished and reappeared on the mountain where Cloud Road Cave lay. He went to the cave mouth, raised his golden-banded staff, and smashed the two doors to pieces, shouting, “You chaff-eating fool! Come out and fight Old Sun!”
The demon was resting in the cave, panting heavily, when he heard the doors shatter and Sun Wukong’s taunt of “chaff-eating fool.” Furious beyond control, he dragged his rake, mustered his strength, and rushed out, screaming, “You Monkey Magistrate, you’re utterly shameless! I have no grudge against you—why did you smash my doors? Look at the law: breaking and entering is a capital offense!”
Sun Wukong laughed and said, “You blockhead! I smashed your doors for a reason. You forcibly took a man’s daughter without a proper matchmaker, betrothal gifts, or wedding feast—that’s a beheading offense!”
The demon said, “Enough talk! Taste Old Pig’s rake!”
Sun Wukong blocked it with his staff and said, “Is this rake used for turning soil in Old Gao’s fields? What’s there to fear!”
The demon said, “You’re mistaken! This rake is no ordinary tool. Listen: It was forged from divine ice iron, polished to a bright sheen. Grand Supreme Elderly Lord himself wielded the hammer; the Fire Star personally added the coals. The Five Emperors of the Five Directions used their cunning; the Six Ding and Six Jia spirits went to great lengths. They crafted nine prongs like jade teeth and cast double rings with golden leaves. Its body aligns with the six luminaries and five planets, its form follows the four seasons and eight solar terms. Its length and height determine heaven and earth; its left and right divide yin and yang and the sun and moon. The six-line divine generals follow the celestial code; the eight trigrams and constellations align with the stars. It is called the Supreme Treasure, the Golden Rake, presented to the Jade Emperor to guard the crimson palace. Because I cultivated to become a Great Immortal and nurtured my eternal life, I was appointed Marshal of the Heavenly River and granted this rake as my imperial scepter. When raised, it blazes with flames and light; when lowered, it brings fierce winds and drifting snow. Heavenly generals all tremble; the King of Hell’s heart quakes. No such weapon exists in the mortal world; no such iron is found on earth. It changes form at will, obeying my thoughts and secret formulas. I have carried it for years without parting, never leaving it day or night. I eat three meals with it always; I sleep with it by my side. I once wore it to the Peach Festival; I once brought it to court the emperor. But because I grew drunk and violent, relying on my strength to cause chaos, heaven banished me to the mortal world, where I committed sins. In this stone cave, I ate men with an evil heart; at Gao Village, I joyfully married. This rake can overturn dragons’ lairs in the sea and crush tigers’ dens on the mountains. Put aside all other weapons—only my rake is the sharpest. Winning in combat is easy; achieving merit in battle needs no mention. What fear have I of your bronze head and iron brain? One strike of my rake, and your soul will vanish, your spirit scatter!”
Sun Wukong listened, then put away his golden-banded staff and said, “Fool, stop boasting! I’ll stick my head out here. Strike it with your rake and see if my soul vanishes and my spirit scatters.”
The demon actually raised his rake and struck with all his might. With a loud crack, sparks flew everywhere, but Sun Wukong’s scalp remained completely unharmed. The demon’s hands and feet went numb with shock. “Hard head! Hard head!” he cried.
Sun Wukong said, “You don’t know yet, do you? Back when I caused havoc in heaven, I stole the elixir, the peaches, and the imperial wine. Captured by Erlang Shen and taken before the Bull-Dou Palace, the heavenly gods tried to execute me with axes, hammers, knives, fire, and thunder—none could harm me. Then the Grand Supreme Elderly Lord threw me into the Eight Trigrams Furnace and refined me with divine fire. Instead, it forged my fiery golden eyes and bronze head with iron arms. Strike again if you don’t believe me, and see if it hurts.”
The demon said, “You monkey, I remember you caused havoc in heaven from the Water Curtain Cave on Flower-Fruit Mountain in the Eastern Continent. I haven’t heard of you in years. Why have you come to bully me here? Did my father-in-law invite you?”
Sun Wukong said, “Your father-in-law didn’t invite me. I reformed my ways, abandoned the Dao, and became a monk, protecting the Tang emperor’s younger brother, the holy monk Tripitaka, on his pilgrimage to the Western Heaven to seek the true scriptures. Passing through Gao Family Village, we stayed as guests. Old Gao told me about you and asked me to save his daughter and capture you, chaff-eating fool!”
When the demon heard the words “pilgrim seeking scriptures,” he immediately dropped his rake, bowed deeply, and said, “Where is this pilgrim? Please take me to see him.”
Sun Wukong asked, “Why do you want to see him?”
The demon said, “I was once advised by the Bodhisattva Guanyin to do good. I received her precepts and have been here, eating vegetarian and cultivating. She told me to follow the pilgrim to the Western Heaven, seek the true scriptures, atone for my sins through merit, and achieve true enlightenment. She said I should wait for the pilgrim here, but years passed without news. Since you are his disciple now, why didn’t you mention the pilgrimage earlier? Why did you come fighting me with force?”
Sun Wukong said, “Don’t try to trick me and escape. If you truly want to protect Tang Sanzang and speak no lies, swear an oath to heaven, and then I’ll take you to see my master.”
The demon knelt with a thud, kowtowing to the sky like a pestle pounding rice, and said, “Amida Buddha! Namo Buddha! If I am not sincere, may I break the heavenly laws again and be split into ten thousand pieces!”
Sun Wukong saw his oath and said, “Since that’s the case, set fire to your dwelling, and then I’ll take you.”
The demon indeed gathered reeds and thorns, lit a fire, and burned Cloud Road Cave until it looked like a broken tile kiln. He said to Sun Wukong, “I have no attachments now. Take me.”
Sun Wukong said, “Give me your rake.” The demon obediently handed it over. Sun Wukong then plucked a strand of hair, blew on it with immortal breath, and said, “Change!” The hair instantly became a three-strand hemp rope. He walked over, bound the demon’s hands behind his back, and the demon did not resist. Sun Wukong grabbed the demon by the ear and pulled, saying, “Move! Move!”
The demon said, “Gently! Your grip is too strong—my ear hurts!”
Sun Wukong said, “I can’t be gentle! No time to care for you! As the saying goes, ‘A kind pig must be caught roughly.’ When we see my master, if you are truly sincere, I’ll release you.”
With Sun Wukong pulling Pigsy by the ear, they floated half in the clouds and half on the ground, heading straight for Gao Family Village. A poem testifies to this: The metal nature, fierce and strong, can overcome wood; The Mind-Ape subdues the wooden dragon, bringing it home. Metal and wood, in harmony, become one; Wood clings to metal’s benevolence, each giving full play. One host, one guest, with no separation; Three interactions, three unions, hold profound mystery. Nature and emotion, both pleased, gather in pure unity; Together they bear witness to the West, their words never false.
In no time, they arrived before the village. Sun Wukong, holding Pigsy’s rake and pulling his ear, said, “Look, who is that sitting in the hall? That’s my master!”
Senior Gao’s relatives and the old man himself, seeing the demon bound and led by the ear, joyfully ran into the courtyard and said, “Reverend! Reverend! This is our son-in-law!”
Pigsy approached, knelt on both knees with his hands bound behind his back, and kowtowed to Tripitaka, shouting, “Master, your disciple has come late! Had I known you were staying at my father-in-law’s house, I would have come to pay my respects long ago. Why all this trouble?”
Tripitaka asked, “Wukong, how did you subdue him into willingly becoming my disciple?”
Sun Wukong then released him, tapped Pigsy with the rake handle, and shouted, “Blockhead! Tell the truth yourself!”
Pigsy then recounted how the Bodhisattva Guanyin had advised him to do good and told him to wait for the pilgrim, telling the whole story from beginning to end.
Tripitaka was overjoyed and said to Senior Gao, “Please prepare an incense table.” Senior Gao quickly had one brought out. Tripitaka washed his hands, lit incense, and kowtowed toward the south, saying, “Great thanks to the Bodhisattva for her immense kindness!” The elders also stepped forward to add incense and kowtow.
After the worship, Tripitaka sat down in the hall and said, “Wukong, untie his ropes.” Sun Wukong shook himself, retracted the hair-rope, and the bonds on Pigsy instantly loosened. Pigsy again kowtowed to Tripitaka, vowing to follow him to the Western Heaven. He also kowtowed to Sun Wukong, acknowledging him as senior brother by order of arrival.
Tripitaka said, “Since you are willing to turn to good and enter the Buddhist path as my disciple, I will give you a religious name for future address.”
Pigsy said, “Master, the Bodhisattva has already anointed my head and given me the precepts, with the religious name Zhu Wuneng.”
Tripitaka smiled and said, “Good! Good! Your senior brother is called Wukong, and you are called Wuneng—this follows our Buddhist lineage.”
Wuneng said, “Master, I received the Bodhisattva’s precepts and have already given up the five pungent vegetables and three forbidden meats. At my father-in-law’s house, I’ve been eating vegetarian all along. Now that I’ve met you, may I break my fast and eat some meat?”
Tripitaka said, “No! No! Since you have already given up the five pungents and three forbidden meats, I will give you another name: ‘Eight Precepts.’”
The blockhead happily said, “I obey the master’s command!” From then on, he gained the additional name Zhu Bajie.
Seeing Bajie reformed, Senior Gao was even more delighted. He quickly ordered servants to prepare a feast to thank Tripitaka. Bajie stepped forward and grabbed Senior Gao, saying, “Father, call out my wife. Let her pay respects to her father-in-law and uncles. How about that?”
Sun Wukong laughed and said, “Brother, now that you’ve entered the Buddhist path as a monk, don’t mention ‘wife’ anymore. In this world, there are only married Daoist priests at home, not married monks. Let’s sit down and eat first. After we finish, we’ll head west early.”
Senior Gao set out the feast, seating Tripitaka at the head, with Sun Wukong and Bajie on either side, and the relatives below. Senior Gao opened a jar of vegetarian wine, filled a cup, first offered it to heaven and earth, then handed it to Tripitaka.
Tripitaka said, “To be honest, Senior Gao, I have been a vegetarian since birth. I have never eaten meat.”
Senior Gao said, “I know the reverend is vegetarian, so I didn’t dare prepare meat dishes. This wine is also vegetarian wine. Drinking one cup won’t hurt.”
Tripitaka said, “I cannot drink wine either. Wine is the first precept we monks must observe.”
Wuneng grew anxious and said, “Master, though I’m vegetarian, I haven’t given up wine.”
Sun Wukong said, “Though I don’t have a large capacity and can’t drink a whole jar, I haven’t given up wine either.”
Tripitaka said, “In that case, you two may drink some vegetarian wine, but don’t get drunk and cause trouble.” So Sun Wukong and Bajie took the first cup, and everyone sat down. The vegetarian feast was laid out, and the dishes were truly sumptuous.
After the master and disciples finished eating, Senior Gao brought out a red-lacquered tray containing two hundred taels of loose silver to give the three as travel expenses, along with three cotton robes as outer garments.
Tripitaka said, “We are traveling monks who beg for food in villages. How dare we accept gold and silver?”
Sun Wukong stepped forward, grabbed a handful of silver, and said to Gao Cai, “Gao Cai, yesterday you troubled yourself to lead us to find the master, and today you helped the master gain a new disciple. I have nothing to thank you with. Take these loose silver as a token of appreciation. Buy yourself a pair of straw sandals. If you meet any more demons in the future, recommend a few more to me, and I’ll thank you again!”
Gao Cai took the silver and kowtowed in thanks. Senior Gao said again, “Since the reverends won’t accept the silver, at least take these coarse cotton clothes as a token of my sincerity.”
Tripitaka still refused: “We monks, if we accept even a single thread of wealth, it will be hard to achieve true enlightenment. Just pack the leftover cakes and fruits from the table as dry rations, and that will be enough.”
Bajie grew impatient and said, “Master, Senior Brother, if you don’t want them, fine. But I’ve been a son-in-law in this house for years. Even as wages, I should get at least three bushels of grain! Father-in-law, last night my senior brother tore my long robe. Give me a green brocade cassock instead! My shoes are also worn out—give me a new pair!”
Senior Gao dared not refuse. He quickly bought a new pair of shoes and a long robe, letting Bajie change out of his old clothes.
Bajie, swaying and swaggering, bowed to Senior Gao and said, “Tell my mother-in-law, eldest aunt, second aunt, brothers-in-law, and uncles that today I’m becoming a monk. I didn’t have time to say goodbye in person, so please don’t take offense. Father-in-law, take good care of my wife. If we fail to obtain the scriptures, I might still return to secular life and be your son-in-law again!”
Sun Wukong shouted, “Blockhead! Stop your nonsense!”
Bajie said, “Brother, I’m not talking nonsense. What if something goes wrong on the road? Then I’d lose both the monkhood and my wife—caught between two losses!”
Tripitaka said, “Enough idle talk. Let’s set out early.”
So they packed a load of luggage for Bajie to carry. Sun Wukong led the white horse, Tripitaka mounted it, and Sun Wukong shouldered his golden-banded staff, leading the way. The three master and disciples bid farewell to Senior Gao and all the relatives and friends, heading west. A poem testifies to this: The earth is covered with mist and clouds, trees rise high; The Tang monk, a son of Buddha, toils with bitter care. When hungry, he eats from a bowl begged from a thousand homes; When cold, he wears a robe patched with a thousand needles. Let not the mind-horse in your breast run wild; Do not let the mischievous mind-ape howl. When emotion and nature are settled, all conditions unite; When the moon is full and the golden flower blooms, the old self is shed.
The three master and disciples traveled west, passing a month in peace without incident. Leaving the borders of the Wusizang Kingdom, they looked up and saw a towering mountain before them. Tripitaka reined in his horse and said, “Wukong, Wuneng, this mountain ahead is so high—we must be careful.”
Bajie said, “No problem. This mountain is called Pagoda Mountain. There’s a meditation master named the Crow’s Nest Chan Master who cultivates here. I’ve met him before.”
Tripitaka asked, “What abilities does this Chan Master have?”
Bajie said, “He has some cultivation. He once urged me to follow him in practice, but I didn’t go.”
As the master and disciples talked, they soon reached the mountain. What a beautiful sight it was! To the south of the mountain grew green pines and emerald cypresses; to the north, green willows and red peach blossoms. In the forest, birds chirped and sang to each other; cranes spread their wings and danced gracefully. All kinds of flowers bloomed in riotous colors, their fragrance filling the air; wild grasses grew lush and thick in strange and wonderful shapes. In the mountain stream, green water surged and tumbled; before the cliffs, auspicious clouds gathered. It was truly a scenic and peaceful place, with no travelers to be seen.
On his horse, Tripitaka spotted a thatched nest before a fragrant cypress tree in the distance. To the left, a deer held flowers in its mouth; to the right, a mountain monkey offered fruit. At the treetop, a green luan and colorful phoenix sang together; black cranes and golden pheasants gathered there. Bajie pointed and said, “That’s the Crow’s Nest Chan Master!” Tripitaka urged his horse forward until they reached the tree.
Seeing the three approach, the Chan Master descended from his nest and jumped down from the tree. Tripitaka dismounted and kowtowed. The Chan Master reached out to help him up, saying, “Holy Monk, please rise. Forgive me for not coming out to welcome you.”
Bajie said, “Old Chan Master, I bow to you.”
The Chan Master asked in surprise, “Aren’t you Zhu Ganglie of Blessing Mountain? How did you gain such great affinity to travel with the Holy Monk?”
Bajie said, “Two years ago, the Bodhisattva Guanyin advised me to do good and told me to become the Holy Monk’s disciple.”
The Chan Master was overjoyed and said, “Good! Good! Good!” Then, pointing at Sun Wukong, he asked, “Who is this?”
Sun Wukong smiled and said, “This old Chan Master recognizes him but doesn’t recognize me?”
The Chan Master said, “My knowledge is limited.”
Tripitaka said, “He is my senior disciple, Sun Wukong.”
The Chan Master quickly smiled apologetically and said, “My apologies, my apologies.”
Tripitaka kowtowed again and asked where the Great Thunderclap Temple in the Western Heaven was located.
The Chan Master said, “Far! Far! Moreover, the road is full of tigers and leopards—difficult to travel.”
Tripitaka earnestly asked again, “How far is the journey exactly?”
The Chan Master said, “Though the journey is far, there will always be a time to reach it. But the road is filled with demons and miasmas that are hard to dispel. I have a scroll of the Heart Sutra, consisting of fifty-four sentences and two hundred and seventy characters. If you encounter demons or miasmas, just recite this sutra, and you will not be harmed.”
Tripitaka prostrated himself and begged, and the Chan Master orally transmitted the sutra to him. The sutra was: The Maha Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra: When the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara practiced the profound Prajna Paramita, he saw that the five aggregates are all empty, and he crossed beyond all suffering and hardship. Shariputra, form is not different from emptiness; emptiness is not different from form. Form is exactly emptiness; emptiness is exactly form. Sensation, perception, mental formation, and consciousness are also like this. Shariputra, all dharmas are empty in nature, neither arising nor ceasing, neither defiled nor pure, neither increasing nor decreasing. Therefore, in emptiness, there is no form, no sensation, perception, mental formation, or consciousness; no eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, or mind; no form, sound, smell, taste, touch, or mental objects; no realm of sight, and so on up to no realm of consciousness; no ignorance and also no ending of ignorance, and so on up to no old age and death and also no ending of old age and death. No suffering, no cause of suffering, no cessation of suffering, no path; no wisdom and no attainment. Because there is nothing to attain, the Bodhisattva, relying on Prajna Paramita, has no hindrance in his mind. Because there is no hindrance, he has no fear, and he leaves behind all inverted dreams and thoughts, ultimately attaining Nirvana. All Buddhas of the three times, relying on Prajna Paramita, attain Anuttara Samyak Sambodhi. Therefore, know that Prajna Paramita is the great divine mantra, the great bright mantra, the supreme mantra, the unequaled mantra, which can remove all suffering—it is true and not false. Therefore, speak the Prajna Paramita mantra, which is: Gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha!
At that time, this Tang monk, who had a natural affinity with Buddhism, memorized the Heart Sutra after hearing it once. This sutra has been passed down to this day, serving as the foundational scripture for cultivation and the key to achieving Buddhahood.
After transmitting the sutra, the Chan Master stepped onto an auspicious cloud to return to his nest. Tripitaka grabbed him again, insisting on knowing the specific route west. The Chan Master smiled and said: The road is not difficult to travel—listen to my instructions: A thousand mountains, a thousand rivers, deep and vast; Many miasmas, many demons along the path. If you encounter a cliff that touches the sky, Set your heart at ease and feel no fear. When you come to Ear-Rubbing Cliff, Tread carefully with sideways steps. Beware of the dark pine forest, Where fox spirits often block the way. Spirits fill the cities and kingdoms; Demon lords inhabit the mountains. Tigers sit in the music halls; Gray wolves serve as record keepers. Lions and elephants all claim to be kings; Tigers and leopards act as officials. A wild boar carries the load on his shoulders; A water monster you will meet ahead. An old stone monkey of many years, There he will nurse his anger. Ask that acquaintance of yours— He knows the road to the West.
Sun Wukong listened and said with a cold laugh, “We don’t need to ask him! Just ask me!”
Before Tripitaka could understand what was happening, the Chan Master transformed into a golden light and flew back to his nest. The elder quickly looked up and bowed in thanks, but Sun Wukong, angered, raised his golden-banded staff to strike. As he approached, however, countless lotuses bloomed, and auspicious clouds wrapped around the nest. Even with his power to overturn rivers and seas, Sun Wukong could not touch a single vine of the nest.
Tripitaka grabbed Sun Wukong and said, “Wukong, such a good Bodhisattva—why do you want to strike his nest?”
Sun Wukong said, “He insulted us brothers before leaving!”
Tripitaka said, “He was talking about the journey to the Western Heaven. How was he insulting you?”
Sun Wukong said, “You don’t understand! He said, ‘A wild boar carries the load on his shoulders’—that was insulting Bajie. And ‘An old stone monkey of many years’—that was insulting me! How could you not hear it?”
Bajie said, “Senior Brother, don’t be angry. This Chan Master can see through past and future. Look, he said, ‘A water monster you will meet ahead.’ Who knows if that’s accurate? Let him off.”
Seeing that the nest was surrounded by lotuses and auspicious clouds, and finding no way to strike, Sun Wukong could only help his master mount the horse and descend the mountain, heading west. From this point on, it was destined that worldly blessings would be few and mountain disasters many. As for what lay ahead on the road, we shall hear in the next chapter.